Reviews

No good deed goes unpunished

Three Outlaw Samurai was an entertaining samurai film that supplied plenty of action and more than a few laughs. It felt like a smaller scale Seven Samurai with three samurai who come together to try and save impoverished peasants from a callous magistrate.

Shiba Sakon is a wandering samurai looking to find shelter for the night when he comes across a woman's hairpin in the road. An old mill is nearby and either weariness or curiosity compels him to go there. He finds three desperate peasants holding the local magistrate's daughter hostage. Suffering and dying because of recent crop failures, they want to force the magistrate to reduce their tax burden and help them out. Shiba gives them some hostage taking guidance and evens the playing field while they are in negotiation, or more accurately, fighting for their lives. The magistrate orders a samurai named Kikyo, who has been taking advantage of his food and lodging, to resolve the issue for him after his attempt to rescue his daughter and slaughter the peasants failed. Sakura Kyojuro, a vagabond samurai sitting in jail, is recruited by the magistrate along with three murderers to help Kikyo. Sakura grew up as a peasant farmer and quickly changes sides when he finds out what their real mission is. Kikyo, the "Freeloader" as Shiba dubs him, appears to do as little as he can in the distasteful situation.

After a time Shiba is able to reach a deal with the magistrate. He will take the peasants' punishment, 100 lashes, if the magistrate agrees to release him afterwards and spares the peasants. He makes the magistrate samurai pinky swear to uphold the agreement. The magistrate breaks the samurai code and starts having the peasants murdered and a post-torture Shiba thrown into a water dungeon. The local clan lord is arriving soon and the magistrate doesn't want him to know how incompetent he is and also doesn't want the peasant's petition to reach him. He unwisely sends killers after Kikyo which causes the high maintenance samurai to firmly change sides. Now the team is assembled.

This was director Gosha Hideo's first feature film and he nailed it. Narratively, the story flowed and he knew when to pause and when to set the fights in action. Betrayal, corruption, social class antagonism, and even a little redemption arch kept the pauses from being too slow. At its heart, the film was the ancient tale between good and evil and how much or any people are willing to sacrifice for justice. The cinematography, framing and editing all looked great.

The cast was strong with each samurai being his own man. Shiba and Kikyo shared their motivating influences in this exchange. Shiba told Kikyo, "You calculate the gains and losses too much." To which Kikyo responded, " You don't calculate enough." Sakura was a round deadly teddy bear. Though all ended up being likeable, they had their flaws. My biggest complaint is that the band took too long to get together. These actors had a very nice chemistry. Three Outlaw Samurai was a prequel for a tv drama series by the same name that the same actors would star in. My only other complaint would be that the women were portrayed poorly, most were clingy and/or flighty.

The fights tended to be quick and brutal. A number of people only seeking a better life and trying to do the right thing were cut down. A running fight scene was exhilarating and at one point I thought the guys were going to pull a Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid stunt. After a betrayal and during a huge fight, a character tells Shiba, "You have to kill me!" Shiba sardonically replies, "I'm kind of busy at the moment." It's those moments of levity during a deadly fight against superior numbers that balances the mood of the film.

Despite the dynamic trios' efforts and good deeds-Shiba's torture, Kikyo's character growth, and Sakura's desire for redemption, and the small battles won, the intransigent nature of the corrupted caste system prevailed over justice. In the end, Shiba's idealism and swift sword were unable to cut through the status quo or embolden the peasants' courage. But at least he did not have to suffer his loss alone, he gained two friends to wander the path of the adventurous ronin. Three Outlaw Samurai was not a deeply layered story, but it was an entertaining and fast paced samurai film that fans of the genre might enjoy.

5/20/23

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Happy Madness Ending

Some would say this doesn't have a happy ending, but to someone who has gone thru the same and much worse this is indeed a happy ending, seeing the intern killing all of them and getting away with it, that felt good not great but good, she didn't go thru that much, but still she was mistreated and they didn't respect her and got another intern, so she can't be blamed for what she did even if it's wrong.
Over the last 6 years of working I have gone thru the same things, I didn't even stand up for myself at the beginning and was used and took advantage of cause they thought I can't stand up for my self, till i had enough of it and I faced them and then they started respecting me and knew my worth, but I'd always leave the place after a year or so cause I don't like to become as filthy as they are or in her case become a murderer 😂

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Have mixed feelings about this.

The story started of great. Mysterious faction and govt trying to find them.
And then idk what the movie was trying to show. Ofc i didn't see the tags and that wrong on my part but most of the time went in the romance and the scenes and and ending with the love triangle between the leads.

Cinematography is great
Fighting scenes are great
Them putting ambushes from both sides were good
Twists were great.
Except for the story telling?
It felt uncomplete to me. Maybe coz i was more focused on faction and how its gonna fight?

Maybe i would love a drama of this which shows more about faction.

Ending is satisfying but i was hoping all the three to whoosh. But anyway still fine i guess.

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Its stylishly good but its not great

This movie tried to be a lot of things. Tarantino meeting John Wick but falling off somewhere is how I can describe this.

The story is gripping and can keep you in for the duration of the movie but I personally found the first hour and a half ridiculously slow and boring which I cannot forgive at all. Furthermore, the story resolved into unneeded sappy territory which was disappointing too.

However, the cinephile in me recognizes the artistic winning aspect of this film which is stylishly delivered and that aspect is the only that save this movie from being a non watchable entity.

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Beautifully written

This is going to be the first review of mine. It won't be a long one. It might be because I am in a bad period of my life mentally, but I couldn't hold back my tears for 2 hours of the 2.5-hour movie. Bullying is also a very sensitive issue for me, as is not being able to find someone to rely on.

I don't want to give spoilers or give any little detail that could ruin the movie but I want to say that this movie was the best movie I've ever seen, no matter how much it made me cry. If you're looking for something action-packed fun, skip this one, but I think everyone should watch it at least once in their lifetime. Thank you. I also want to appreciate the OST and the acting.

Everything was just beautiful.

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its a good movie

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A kill or be killed world and love

When a film begins with a traditional marriage where the bride wants to murder the groom on their wedding night you are left with the question, "Which one is the The Legend and which one is the Butterfly?" A political marriage of the uncouth Fool of Owari and the cunning Viper's Daughter made for an explosive and potent combination.

The story was a reimagining of Oda Nobunaga and Nohime's marriage as little was known about it. Historically, she was thought to be beautiful, intelligent, and skilled with a blade. In this version of the life story of the first "Great Unifier" of Japan, she was the genius and fire behind the man.

Nobunaga and Nohime clashed, sometimes violently, in early scenes in the film. The story takes place over thirty years, giving short amounts of time to major events in their lives, usually converging with battles for power outside of the marriage. Eventually, they come to a place outside of Nohime's role as a spy for her father and her infertility where they could move beyond tolerance and reluctant admiration to love. But true love rarely flows smoothly with pride, vengeance, and illness creating problems.

Kimura Takuya was able to portray Nobunaga's carefree and coarse youth with buddies outside of his caste. He also conveyed the weight of the battles and familiar lives lost, showing the transformation from the Fool of Owari into the Demon King capable of ordering women and children to be killed. Ayase Haruka transcended many of her drama roles as the tough as nails and brilliant strategist, Nohime. I was saddened as her role diminished once she fell in love and yet she still wrung as much out of Nohime's shadow as she could.

The gorgeous sets, elaborate costumes, music, and cinematography were all well done. It would be hard to fault unless there were some anachronisms involved. I am not well versed in the history of this era so I can only comment on the entertainment value of the film for an outsider. While I enjoyed the fast-track history lesson, the romance between Nobunaga and Nohime was difficult to comprehend as both held their emotions close to their vests. They only allowed their true feelings to show a couple of times. It could be hard to keep up with their emotional "growth" because of the constant short time jumps and quick changes in attitudes as Nobunaga strengthened his resolve to kill everyone who opposed him and she softened desiring a normal life with him more and more. As much as I wanted to care about the two, it was difficult to emotionally connect to them and their conflicts. Perhaps this would have worked better as a short drama so that their personality changes could have been delved into more and not be seen as so abrupt.

The Legend and Butterfly was entertaining even if it lacked the emotional depth I was looking for between the spouses. Regardless of historical accuracy, it was refreshing to see Nohime shown as a capable and intelligent woman, a wife Nobunaga could turn to for sound advice. Whether Nobunaga was a Fool or a Demon, neither, or a little of both is for people far more educated on the subject than me to comment on. As a film, a nearly 3 hour film covering 3 decades, focusing on the marital harmony and disharmony of one of Japan's most famous historical figures, The Legend and Butterfly succeeded largely on the likeability and skills of the performers. It was a kill or be killed world and for a time, marriage.




5/19/23

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I preferred this to the original show

Fools in love, that basically sums it all! The reason why I liked this more than the original show is that they are that much more secure in each other, excluding few bouts of dramatics, and it was just lovely to see how their relationship had evolved from the show.

Acting is great, their faces are so expressive and I especially enjoyed watching Shiro who is much more subtler but still like, so clearly in love. And now, in addition to through his cooking, learning to show it more explicitly. (Which Kenji is freaked out by lol)

Meals and recipes looked delicious as always too, especially those caramel apples, I really have to try them at some point!

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Painful and raw

Definitely an infuriating, frustrating, painful and in the end numbing movie. At every turn of the story you want to believe that things will take a turn for the better, that with that good for nothing bum of a husband out the picture that maybe she can turn things around but fate is against her. Pushed to the absolute edge of her own sanity you still want to believe that now that she has snapped there might be another turn that even with that dark twist at least she might somehow get a grasp back on her life just to then realize that no this movie won't have a happy ending. And maybe the dread of life slapping the viewer in the face is what makes this movie so special. It's a raw depiction of all the worst in life coming down on a teenager who deserved better, who has tried and failed.

The acting is absolute perfection and brings the conflicting emotions of the characters across in a way that has you just as confused as the director wants you to be. The cinematography is simple yet impactful switching between very bright to very dark scenery where our main characters hair is somewhat often the focal point.

This is not a movie for those with thin nerves nor for those struggling with their mental health. Please be cautious before watching this and if you do, please know that it is a caution tale and not a reflection on how things have to end in life.

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It's Got a Certain Hipster Nihilism, But It Works

Let it be said that "Tokyo Rampage" is largely about style. Now, this could easily mean that a movie is superficial. However, the style here is slickly appealing and, moreover, part of the movie's theme about socio-cultural vacuity. In short, it works.

As for the story itself, there's a certain hipster nihilism which would -- just like the movie's surfeit stylishness -- seem a negative element. Yet, no, it's actually handled in a way that's purposeful and, hence, intriguing. Indeed, I enjoyed the ride because I had decided early on that the inscrutable, psychopathic lead's maddeningly repeated line, "Not needed," made him the homicidal cousin to Bartleby in Herman Melville's famous short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener." I am referring, of course, to the inscrutable Bartleby's maddeningly repeated line, "I prefer not to."

Like Bartleby, this character is a blank, and his mission to murder every "Not needed" person in his path does not make us hate him, because one cannot hate a blank space. Meanwhile, the audience is intended to empathize with the other lead, the psychopath's boss (the one sympathetic character in the whole movie), and for the boss the line, "Not needed" eventually begins to register as an existential crisis.

The viewer, just as the boss, begins to squirm under the same frustrating fear and bewilderment each time they hear the line, "Not needed." It's when you realize that you are just as effected by this line as he is that you also realize, son of a bitch, this bizarre, disturbing movie worked. In other words, it achieved precisely what it had set out to achieve.

Oh, and watch for the visuals -- such as the bathes of tomatoes, the swooping down of death crows, and the falling of knives. But especially the falling of the knives. That scene is worth the whole movie alone.

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Tony is on fire!

Tony Jaa showed the world the fierce beauty that is Muay Thai in Ong Bak. It helps when watching this movie to recognize that Tony worked without wires, without CGI, and without stunt doubles. Fast, acrobatic, and incredibly limber he did moves that will leave your jaw gaping.

Plot? The story scaffolding holding up the film was exceptionally thin. Tony's Ting goes to Bangkok after his village Buddha's head called Ong Bak is stolen by a drug dealer. He meets up with a cousin and his female friend/"sister"/girlfriend who spend their time gambling or fleecing gamblers. The Big Bad loses a ton of money on the fights in his fight club when Ting accidentally becomes involved in them and defeats all comers. Unlike his cousin, Ting doesn't fight for money or gamble, all he wants is the Ong Bak back.

From start to finish, whether it was the villagers racing to the top of a tree or Ting racing through Bangkok leaping over cars, sliding underneath a moving car or flying up a wall (no wires, remember) the action came fast and often. The fight scenes in the club were brutal. There were no holds barred and everything in the room could be used as a weapon. Ting was even hit with a refrigerator! At one point in a different setting, Ting continued to fight with his pants on fire! Most moments of glorious flight ended in an acrobatic dismount. Even the pickiest judge would have given him a 10 for form and style.

I pity the stuntmen who took the hits in this movie, because even with padding there were numerous hits and kicks that were going to leave a mark afterward. Some of the falls were Sammo Hung hitting the ground hard falls.

The director made use of slow-mo as well as showing impressive stunt scenes repeatedly from different angles just in case you missed something spectacular or your eyes refused to believe what they were seeing the first time. Tony trained for several years in Muay Boran, a predecessor to today's Muay Thai, for this movie. To say he was dedicated to his craft would be an understatement.

Grading this movie was tough. Story: C- Acting: C- Cinematography: C Fight scenes/fight choreography: A

Most people know going into a movie like this you aren't going to see great acting or be entertained with a compelling story. This is a pure smash mouth, elbow hitting, shin kicking, pants on fire, good time with one of the most energetic and acrobatically gifted fighters of his time. No wires, no CGI, no stunt doubles. No problem.


5/18/23

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Reality x illusion

Attention: 18+ content!

This short movie is the sequel to Sex x Friend?

Yuto is still sleeping with everyone who asks and is halfheartedly being careful until his sex friend tells him he tested positive to HIV. Yuto takes the test and then goes to see his friend.

The movie depicts the utter recklessness some people are willing to do in order to find love and warmth only to realize that everything was make believe and that happily ever afters are few and far between. The crashing of one's illusions can be painful. And though they casually talk about doing the right thing sit is sad to see that good intentions were not completely sincere. Yuto, on the other hand, likes sleeping around and what happened to his friend was a huge wake up call!

These two short movies seem to have been made in the eighties. And though they are fairly recent, it goes to show that the human nature is so hard to change that people often think of themselves as invulnerable. Yuto, being miserable and depressed, seems to go back to making right choices for himself after the HIV scare!

I guess there is an educational message for gays her: cover yourselves, the virus is still out there!

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This short movie has 18+ content. Proceed at your own risk and peril!

Yuto is a deeply unsatisfied and envious man going to see his sex friend in a seaside town. He is crass and rude but is longing for warmth and love. His friend offers him that but Yuto refuses.

This short movie manages to paint the portrait of Yuto just by showing him walking through the town and enviously wishing all of it to break down and disappear. He loves having sex with his friend but does not want to date him. It is not clear why not? He probably does not love him.

The cinematography manages to show us the contrast between the overexposed surroundings and the darkness inside Yuto nothing seems to be able to move. Though the camera movements are sometimes rather shaky, and angles seem to be a bit off, it is well filmed. I was struck by the streets he goes through during his bus ride: they are ugly, dirty, only cars in site and they seem to be reflection of his inner feelings. When he arrives to this rich seaside neighbourhood it feels as if he is attacked by all the sunshine, wealth, cleanliness.

The movie just ends midway through a conversation. There is a second part.

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